OT spoke to the manufacturers of optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices about why practitioners should be considering investing in the device and what they should be looking for when they do.

Speaking exclusively to OT during 100% Optical, Heidelberg Engineering’s national account manager, Mike Riley, said: “Ultimately, what we are all here for is patient care and where we want to get to with OCT is to allow this fantastic technology to be used with everybody.”

Birmingham Optical chief commercial officer, Amanda Danson, pointed out that “the NHS, as we all know, is bursting at the seams. We need to help our colleagues and be more open to the ophthalmology aspects of the business.”

Offering insight into what a practitioner should be looking for when exploring OCT options, BiB group CEO, Tim Baker, highlighted: “The quality obviously has to be there. The definition of the A scans have to be good to recognise the different layers and to be able to not only see the pathologies, but generally monitor thinning or thickening.”

Carl Zeiss Meditec, business development manager, Claire Martin, advised practitioners not to just look at the box. “They should be looking at everything that it’s going to bring to their practice,” she said, adding that this should include the support that the company can offer them through marketing and patient leaflets, as well as online e-learning.

Mr Riley concluded: “There are lots of OCTs to choose from and every OCT has its features and benefits that will be right for that practitioner. I think what they probably need to look at is ultimately what they want to offer the patient.”